PFC Forrest Clair Shope

Forrest in 1937

PFC Forrest Clair Shope was born 23 Aug 1918 in Manor, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of the 4 children born to Fred Forrest and Kathryn Lulu (Allen) Shope. His father drive for a grocery and worked as a carpenter. In 1940, Forrest was working as a truck driver and reported a 1939 income of $624. He was still living with his family at 624 Frederick Street in Flemington, Pennsylvania which the family rented for $17 a month.

Forrest was drafted in February 1942. After completing his military training he married Margaret Irene Zeigler and was then sent to England and assigned to B Company 116th Infantry. He participated in amphibious training in preparation for the assault that was planned as part of the invasion of occupied France. He was taking part in that assault on 6 Jun 1944 when he was killed in action.

PFC Shope was repatriated and re-interred in the Rest Haven Memorial Park in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania where he rests forever next to his wife.

Great-grandfather, David Boles Gardner, served as a PVT in E Company 45th Pennsylvania Infantry (USA) in the Civil War.